THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES

							                          THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES

NBC has a tv show that has aired since 1965.. Did you know it is set in North
Carolina? Not really. Actualy, if you have watched it for almost 50 years, you still
do not know what state it is set in. They have never told.

Theme music plays for a moment, then an announcer says, “Like sands through
the hour glass, so are the days of our lives.” Now, I am not sure of all the
philosophical aspects of that statement, but a couple of profound truths are clearly
implied. First, life is short. Second, life is filled with many changes.

   Both of those statements is true. Life is short. This is the testimony of
Scripture, James 4:14 ( 1450 ) Job 7:6-7 ( 593 ) 14:1-2; Psalm 39:5;
89:47 (652 ). And, Life is also very eventful. Some of the happenings of life
are good and others are not so good. Also, what happens to me might not
happen to you.



    But, it is safe to say that there are some things that will happen to each
and every person one of us. In this passage, Solomon mentions three
events that will take place in the life of every person in this room. Since life
is so short and since this is material we all need to hear, I want to point out
these three common events today. I want to preach for a few minutes on
The Days Of Our Lives.



I. First there are CHOOSING DAYS

   A. Life is full of choices. Many make no difference at all. Other,
      however, can have enormous impact on our lives.

   B. The greatest time for choices is in youth. We hear a lot about
      youth this time of the year. Most of us hve grandchildren or perhaps
      just friends that are graduating or maybe just moving ahead to a new
      grade level that brings new challenges. There are proms. This
      afternoon, Ruth and I are supposed to drop in at a neighbor’s
      daughter’s graduation party. The greatest choice any young person
      can make is to give their heart to the Lord - It will save them many
      unnecessary burdens. Did you know that 88% of all conversions
     occur before age 19. 68% between 9 and 14. 80% of school students
     who graduates without Jesus will never be saved. Children ages 5-
     13 have a 32% probability of being saved. 14-18 have a 4%
     probability. 18+ have a 6% probability. The longer you go without
     Jesus, the less your chances become! We hear about a 93 year old
     man or woman saved in nursing home but we do not know that the
     chances of that having happened are actually astronomical.
     Fortunately, God is into astronomical stuff. Ever hear the saying
     Don’t burn your candle for the devil and blow the smoke of a
     wasted life in the face of God! This is a wisdom thing told to young
     people but it is also just as true for you and me.

     Make your choice for Jesus while there is time, Isa. 55:6 ( page 855 ).
     There may be some here today who have never been saved. If so,
     then you need to know that today can be choosing day for you.
     Choosing to follow Jesus is not something that is just for young
     children.

Secondly there are   CHANGING DAYS

     Youth does not last forever. Life marches on with its demands of
     work, family, etc. And, when youth begins to be replaced by age, it is
     a sure sign that the body wearing out. Can any of you picture a house
     falling down. Ruth mentions to me often that she understands now
     how difficult it was for my parents to maintain their house. It was not
     because they liked living in a house that was falling down. They had
     simply gotten old. The body is compared to a house - Job 4:19; 2
     Cor. 5:1-2; 2 Pet.1:3.)

     In these scriptures, we are presented with pictures of what it looks like
      to grow old.

     1. Keeper of the house - Arms and hands tremble

     2. Strong men - Legs, knees, shoulders weaken and the body bends.

     3. Grinders - Teeth fall out

     4. Windows - Vision turns bad

     5. Doors – Closed off, shut in, nothing in common with others.
   6. Grinding - Can't chew food because of teeth

   7. Rise up - Awake early because can't sleep

   8. Music – Hard of hearing

   9. Afraid - Terrified of falling

   10. Almond tree- Hair turns white like an almond blossom

      ( Sometimes it just turns loose and falls out instead.)

   11. Grasshopper - Drag self about like grasshopper at the end of
      summer.

   12. Desire - Loss of appetite for all things, even life itself.

   13. Long home - Death, the eternal home.

   For both you and me, these things are signs that the end is near. A
   wise man sees trouble coming and prepares for it! In Proverbs 6:6 we
   read about an ant and a grasshopper. Please allow me the simplest
   of questions. How well are you prepared for Eternity?

  Death comes to people. Last week I read about a family traveling
  down the road. The bear story.

  From scripture we read about the clay jar that is dropped at the well
  and is broken. . The end of life does indeed come. Like sands
  through the hour glass. Death comes It will come for you, it will
  come for me, it will even come for the youngest ones in our lives. -
  Heb. 9:27 ( 1439 ) Some people don’t live long enough to see old
  age. We know that don’t we. But we have. Still, at this very day in our
  lives, we can have a changing day.

Finally thee are    CONCLUDING DAYS

The body will return to the ground - It is all that will sleep in the grave!
  (Gen. 3:19)

The soul returns to the Lord (Eccl. 3:21) for Him to deal with it as need
  be (2 Cor. 5:1-8) – The soul lives on - either in Heaven, or Hell,
       Where will we spend eternity? It all depends on what you do with
       Jesus. You will bear the responsibility of you decision concerning
       eternity. You will not be able to avoid God in the after life!

       Life is empty if Jesus is left out of your life, yet it is full of glory and
       hope if He is let in.



Conc: These are the days of our lives! What kind of day is this for you? Is
this a choosing day? Choose life, choose Jesus. Is this a changing day?
Let Him help you through the changes. Could this be a concluding day? Be
ready! Whether you are saved or lost, if there is a need in your life; that
need can and will be met if you will seek the Lord today!
Let us pray